Volunteer Opportunities

Care Initiatives Hospice is looking for caring, compassionate people in the Beaverdale area to become hospice volunteers and provide care and support to patients and families. Volunteers determine their own schedule. Contact Mimi Leonard, volunteer coordinator, at 877-577-2888 or mleonard@careinitiatives.org or visit careinitiativeshospice.org.

West Des Moines Human Services is seeking volunteers for its DMARC Food Pantry to assist clients with food orders, stock shelves and keep the pantry tidy. Some lifting is required. Morning and afternoon shifts are available during the week. Contact Mindy Hotovec at Melinda.Hotovec@wdm.iowa.gov or call 222-3663.

Jester Park Nature Center, which opens this summer, needs volunteers to greet visitors, provide information regarding upcoming events and programs as well as registration, check out rental items and sell merchandise. Shifts are available year-round on weekdays and weekends. Recruitment is currently taking place for those interested in donating their time and talents. Training sessions are anticipated to begin in May. Contact Melissa at melissa.schmeling@polkcountyiowa.gov.

Opportunity On Deck is looking for volunteers to teach fundamental dance and basketball skills to students at Crestview Elementary! Volunteers don't have to do any preparation; they simply sign up and show up. During dance lessons, many different types of dance will be taught and celebrated with a recital at the end of the clinics. During the basketball league, instructors will teach dribbling and passing technique, defensive positioning, teamwork and shooting. Clinics will be on Monday and Saturday afternoons. Contact Dylan at opportunityondeck@gmail.com or call 515-422-4123.

The Des Moines Children’s Museum is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. Volunteers are needed to assist with the day-to-day operation of the museum including tasks like welcoming visitors, sanitizing toys and keeping exhibits tidy. Volunteers are welcome to bring their children to play at the museum during a shift, as well as any other open hours on the day of your shift. A background check will be done on all volunteers prior to their first shift. Email dsmchildren@gmail.com.

The Iowa Bike Expo and the RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party are the premier fundraisers for the Iowa Bicycle Coalition and support its work to make Iowa a more bike-friendly state. Volunteer help will allows the coalition to train more driver’s education students how to safely pass bicyclists, provide education to elementary students and create better laws for the safety of bicyclists. Sign up for a shift at http://bit.ly/2ll3qyb or email mark@iowabike.org.